What Customers Are Saying
Marching Band MerchWe have been selling these for five years at marching Band events. The kids love them. We have students who seek us out to be sure they collect their button for each show.
Record Fair MerchMaking buttons with these products is such a fun and new hobby to me. I’ve made so many cool things in preparation for a vinyl record sale
Quality ComponentsSuch fantastic quality. Makes a perfect button. Couldnt be happier with my purchase.
- Bulk-Buying Button Maker
For my needs, this size is perfect and popular. I like to purchase in larger bulk so that I am ready for anything! I've included a video of my bird helping me count them out.
- Reading Incentive Program
This is the perfect size for us. We make these at our school as kids read books from a book list. They can earn buttons all year long
The 1.5" Pinback Button Set is the complete three-part supply for making professional 1.5 inch pinback buttons: front shell, mylar cover, and locking spring pinback. Every component is built to American Standard sizing and made in the USA for a clean, consistent crimp in your 1.5" button maker.
The 1.5" button sits in the sweet spot between the compact 1.25" and the full-size 2.25" — room for bolder artwork and larger lettering while staying light on a lapel, lanyard, or backpack. Order the 10-set sample pack to test your setup, or scale up to 5,000 sets for production runs.
1.5" Pinback Button Set Specifications
| Finished Button Size | 1.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Sizing Standard | American Standard. Not compatible with foreign-made "38 mm" machines. |
| Components Per Set | Front shell, mylar cover, locking spring pinback (3 pieces — everything needed for one button) |
| Graphic Cut Size | 1.837" — the paper size your design must be cut to before pressing |
| Compatible Machine | ABM 1.5" Button Maker (Model 150) |
| Pack Quantities | 10 (sample pack), 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 sets |
| Manufactured | Made in USA |
| Best For | Bands and artists, schools, libraries, churches, political campaigns, nonprofits, craft-fair and Etsy sellers |
What Else Can You Make with a 1.5" Button Maker
Pinback buttons are just the start. The same machine and the same front shells press every product below — swap the back, and you have a new product line.
Magnet Sets
Refrigerator magnets that stay up for years — shell, unpinned metal back, mylar, and peel-and-stick magnet.
Necklace Kits
Pendant necklaces from your own printed designs — shell, necklace back, mylar, and accessories.
Ponytail Holders
Hair accessories for teams and dance groups. For use with Models 150 and Z-150F only.
Flashing Buttons
Red LED flashing buttons that get noticed at night games, races, and evening events.
Versa-Back Sample Pack
Five of each Versa-Back style in one pack — the low-risk way to test new product lines.
American Standard Sizing — Why It Matters
These parts are built to American Standard 1.5" sizing. A 1.5" button measures exactly 38.1 mm. Most foreign-made machines are built to a metric "38 mm" specification — and that tenth of a millimeter is the difference between a button that crimps tight and one that jams the die or falls apart. Even though the sizes sound interchangeable, American Standard 1.5" parts do not typically work in foreign-made 38 mm machines.
If you own an ABM 1.5" Button Maker or another American Standard 1.5" press, these sets are designed and tested to run through it consistently, package after package. Not sure what machine you have? Call us at (972) 985-5074 and we will help you identify it before you order.
Use Case Ideas for 1.5" Buttons
The 1.5" button is the in-between size that does a little of everything: more design room than the small sizes, lower supply cost per piece than the large ones. Popular uses include:
- Band and artist merch. Big enough for full album art, small enough to price in multi-packs at the merch table.
- Campaign and cause buttons. Slogans and candidate names get larger lettering than the small sizes allow.
- School spirit and clubs. Mascots, honor roll, field day, student elections, and graduation keepsakes.
- Library programs. Summer reading milestones and giveaways that stretch a fixed program budget.
- Church and nonprofit events. VBS themes, volunteer appreciation, donor recognition, and fundraisers.
- Craft fairs and Etsy shops. Original artwork and sayings with more canvas to work with than 1.25".
- Parties and events. Favors, birthday badges, and reunion buttons guests actually wear.
Compatible Machines & Cutters
These sets are designed and tested with American Button Machines' 1.5" equipment lineup, so every component crimps consistently from the first button to the five-thousandth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in each 1.5" pinback button set?
Each set contains the three components needed to make one complete button: a metal front shell, a clear mylar cover that protects your design, and a back with a locking spring pinback. No glue or adhesive is needed — your button maker crimps all three pieces together with your printed design in one press.
What is the metric size of a 1.5" button?
A 1.5" button measures exactly 38.1 mm in diameter. It is commonly listed as the nominal "38 mm" size, but the parts themselves are built to the American Standard 1.5" specification — not the metric 38 mm specification used by most foreign manufacturers.
Will these sets work in my foreign-made 38 mm button machine?
Typically, no. American Standard 1.5" parts (38.1 mm) and foreign-made "38 mm" machines sound like the same size, but the fraction-of-a-millimeter difference prevents a proper crimp — buttons may jam the die or fail to lock together. These sets are designed and tested for the ABM 1.5" Button Maker and other American Standard 1.5" presses. If you are not sure what machine you have, call us at (972) 985-5074 before ordering.
What size should I print and cut my graphics?
Graphics for 1.5" buttons must be cut to 1.837" in diameter — the extra material wraps around the shell's edge during pressing. The 1.5" Graphic Punch and the 1.5" Dynamo Hand-Held Punch Cutter both cut this exact size, or you can dial it in on the Adjustable Circle Cutter.
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